Karachi: After hosting two successful fashion weeks and another one planned next month, Pakistanis hope that their country's image as the world's most dangerous state will change as these glamorous events will present a different side of the Muslim nation.
The fashion week held in Lahore recently attracted buyers and representatives of fashion houses in Norway, India and Dubai and there is growing hope that Pakistani fashion designers would soon break into the international market.
"It has not been easy organising the fashion week in Lahore which was the first ever in Lahore given the situation in the country but we felt there is a need to show that life goes on for the Pakistani people and they are not going to be daunted by acts of terrorism," said Sehyr Sehgol of Pakistan Fashion Design Council which organised the week in Lahore.
Since 9/11, Pakistan's image globally has been that of a country where religious extremism and conservatism prevail, a country where the Taliban and other militant outfits wield considerable influence and promote terrorism.
Ammar Belal, a top fashion designer, noted that when the first Pakistan fashion week was planned in Karachi, there was a lot of pessimism whether it could be held because of the growing Taliban threat.
The show was postponed initially due to security concerns but then held.
"It was a big success and it allowed the foreign media to see a different side of our country and people," he said.
Pakistan has always been a society split between the conservatives and liberals but neither really identify themselves with the extremist brand of religion that the
Taliban espouse.
Muniba Kamal, a leading fashion and art critic, pointed out that the fashion weeks were not just about portraying a soft image of Pakistan.
"These shows can eventually serve to become an international business wheel for Pakistani fashion. They have also helped improve networking between designers, buyers and the media, the three main components of any fashion week," Muniba noted.
She said that once fashion weeks were held regularly in Pakistan they would attract more international buyers. "Let us see how well the third Fashion weeks goes in Karachi but the PFDC have shown lot of business savvy already which is a good sign," she said.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, February 28, 2010, 12:32